Control element for statistical machines



Dec. 30, 1941. J. w. BRYCE CONTROL ELEMENT F'OR STATISTICAL MACHINES Filed June so, 1939 IO M 9m 0 smw 9.9.9.. o

a 1 EW PN 52.81 z Q bi l! mw lNVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 194i CONTROL ELEMENT FOR STATISTICAL MACHINES James Wares Bryce, Glen Ridge, N. .L, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 30, 1939, Serial No. 282,209

2 Claims.

This invention relates to novel control elements for statistical machines and more particularly relates to control records for such machines which are provided with coded data designations, said designations being formed in different colors on the different records, said data designations adapted to control the operations of the said machines in accordance with the numerical values and the color values imparted to the designations.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of statistical machine control records having differently colored light modifying data designations disposed thereon and wherein different classes of data are represented by the differently colored designations.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of imperforate statistical machine control records having differently colored light modifying data designations disposed thereon and wherein the coded designations represent the values of the data and the color of the designations denotes predetermined classifications of the data.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of statistical machine control records having differently colored light modifying data designations disposed thereon and wherein the said designations are formed in different positions along the record to represent by their positions the value of the data.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of statistical machine control records which comprise photographic records having light modifying data designations formed thereon in different colors.

A further object of the present invention resides in theprovision of statistical machine control records which comprise photographic film records having light modifying data designations disposed thereon in the form of differently colored control spots.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel control record for a statistical machine which is of such form as tobe extremely compact whereby a larger amount of control and correlated data may be disposed upon a smaller controlling element than heretofore.

In order to show the utility of the novel control record referred to a statistical machine adapted to be controlled by the said record is shown and described in the copending application. Serial No, 282,206, filed June 30, 1939.

Briefly, provision is made whereby the novel photographic control records are presented successively to a single analyzing or sensing station whereat the novel control records are transilluminated so that the differently colored data designations are sensed and effective to control or condition suitably arranged light responsive means in accordance with the color of the sensed designations. The colored light rays set up by the control spots or data designations are directed to a plurality of photocells by means of light conducting rods, the,said photocells are provided with different color filters so that one of, them is effective to absorb or block off the color rays from the associated photocell and thus condition the said photocell to render a suitable amplifying means operative for control purposes.

Now, in the chosen illustration in the said copending application, means are provided whereby the amount data is entered continuously into an accumulator as long as the color of the class data designations is iri a predetermined range, however, upon change of the selected color range of the class data designations, the normal operations of the record feeding means are interrupted, further entry of the amount data into the accumulator is discontinued and total taking operations are effected. It will be understood as the description of the instant application progresses that the statistical machine operations mentioned can be effected by means of the amount data solely which can be formed on the different records in different colors thereby representing by the said colors predetermined classes of data.

It becomes evident to those skilled in the art that numerous advantages are afforded by these novel control records. One of the advantages of the said records, heretofore unattained from the usual type of perforated statistical records, resides in the fact that the differently colored data designations can be made effective for controlling selectively different types of statistical operations in accordance with the colors of the said designations. In the copending application, Serial No. 282,207, filed June 30, 1939, a system is shown and described which is controlled by the present novel control records and wherein different classes of statistical operations are effected in accordance with the colors of the designations, for example, upon detection of certain colored designations the sensed data is entered into the accumulating means additively and upon detection of certain other colored designations the sensed data is entered subtractively therein. I

One type of the novel control records will now I be described and will be shown to comprise imperforate records which are'provided with colored coded light modifying data designations, the

code positions of the designations representing.

the value of the data and the color of the designations representing a predetermined class of the data. Referring now to Fig. 1, the control element2ll shown therein is a fragmentary section of a continuous strip of photographic color film,

provided with the usual feed apertures 24, upon which film are formed a plurality of individual records a to 6, comprising groups of data designations 2| and 22 in the form of discrete and differently colored control spots. One type of color film which is suitable for the purposes described, in the instant application is the Agfacolor film which comprises a single unitary film structure consisting of a support upon which is coated in thin superimposed layers a plurality of light sensitive emulsions, each particularly sensitive to One of the primary colors. By exposing such a film to a colored object, three separate color records are recorded simultaneously, each sensitized layer recording the image to which it is color-sensitive. The color formation is brought about by the development of the film. Assume that the film 20 has been suitably exposed to record the data thereon in color and that the color formation of the data as designated is brought out by development of the recorded film.

The spot representations 2! represent suitable classification data and the spot representations represent amount data. The data represented by the reference character 23 is shown merely for interpreting the associated coded control spots and are not used for controlling machine operations in the instant application. Assume that the data shown in the individual records a and b are formed in red color, the data in record 0 in blue, the data in record d in green, and the data in record e in black.

The spot representations 2i and 22 are photographic machine control spot representations and each set of numerical data comprises one or more control spots in such relative position, in different columnar areas, upon the film record as to represent by their relative position thereon the numerical control value thereof. In practice and according to the embodiment shown, such numerical spot representations are shown on the film in index point relation in general conformance with the manner in which index perforations are disposed on perforated record cards in the Hollerith accounting system. That is, the differential position of a control spot representation delineates the numerical value of a particular numeral. This will be clear by referr'ng to the figure and particularly record a wherein the data represented by the designations or control spots 22 represent the amount twentyseven.

In order to illustrate one type of commercial application of the novel control records and thereby show some of the advantages attained by this type of record, assume that in certain organizationsa plurality of accounts are maintained and that each said account may represent several different types of. items. By referring to the figure it will be understood that special designations need not be assigned to the diflerent items in order that it is possible to segregate such items. It is possible, by utilization of the present type of control record, to assign a certain color value to the item designations so that all the individual items can be recorded on the records under the general account number designation,- however, since the data designations are recorded in different colors to represent the different items included in the account this information is immediately imparted to. the observer as well as the machine due to the described make up of the control records. In the figure the data designations on records c, d,

and e relate to the same account number yetdesignating by the differently colored designations different items of the account thereby. Another application which can be made to illustrate the distinct advantages of the present records is in the insurance business. Records can be produced whereby the class data or numbers can represent the particular insurance agents and the colors of the class data designations can represent the different types of policies participated in by the agents. The corresponding amount data are formed in the same related colors, so that it becomes evident that in certain cases controlling operations of the machine can be effected from the amount data solely in accordance with the color designations of the said data.

It will be understood that the completed film has photographic reproductions thereon at successively spaced intervals along the film and that the reproductions are in extremely compact form, accordingly, a large quantity of statistical information can be placed on an extremely small controlling record. g

The description to follow relates to the method of and means for analyzing the colored data designations on the photographic records.

Method of analyzing color of data designations Referring now to Fig. 2 the method of analyzing the colored control spots formed on the film will now be explained briefly. Assume that the film 20 is advanced in the direction shown by the arrow past the sensing station which is represented by an aperture 25 in the opaquemember 26: and that the color of the control spot presented to the said sensing station is red. Light rays emanating from a suitable source 21 are directed by the condenser 28 to the aperture 25 to permeate the section of the film presented to the said aperture. The red rays transmitted by the control spot are directed to different photocells 29a, 29b and 290 by means of the light conducting means comprising a threeway quartz rod member 30. Suitable light ray filters ii to 33 are disposed between the individual legs of the quartz rod member and the associated photocells. Assume that the filter 3| is a cyna color filter designed to pass the different colored rays excepting red rays which are absorbed by this filter, that the filter 32 is a yellow color filter permitting the colored rays with the exception of green to pass therethrough and that the filter 33 is a. magenta color filter permitting the colored rays with the exception of blue to pass therethrough.

Now, since the red light rays are directed by the individual legs of the quartz member 30 to the individual filters 3| to 33, it is understood that the said rays are permitted to pass through the yellow and magenta filters to impinge upon the associated photocells 29b and 29a; respectively, but are absorbed by the cyna filter so that no light rays are transmitted to the associated photocell 29a. Upon presentation of a blue control spot to the sensing station, it is seen that the cyna and yellow filters permit the rays to be transmitted to photocells 29a and 29b, respectively, whereas no blue light rays are transmitted by the magenta filter to the photocell 25c, and upon sensing a green control spot light rays are transmitted to photocells 29a and 290 but not to photocell 29b. In the event that a black control spot is presented to the sensing station light rays are transmitted to all three photocells, namely Z'Sa to 29C.

Further description of the machine utilizing the records described herein is not deemed necessary in view of the fact that such machines are described in detail in the abovementioned copending applications.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A control element provided with data designations and adapted for use in multidenominational order statistical machines, said control element comprising a record having columns of I light modifying designations which are differentially disposed therein so as to represent by their positions in the columns the values of the desig: nations, and the said light modifying designations being formed in a predetermined color for representing by such color a predetermined classification of the data.

2. A control element for controlling statistical machines comprising a record having a columnar area with a light modifying designation differentially disposed therein so as to represent by its position therein the value of the designation, and the said light modifying designation being formed in a predetermined color for representing by such color a predetermined classification or the value or the said light modifying designation.

- JAMES WARES BRYCE 

